INEC leadership retirement raises democracy concerns as experts urge Tinubu to ensure fair, transparent appointments ahead of 2027 elections
INEC leadership retirement is raising alarm as nearly half of the top officials at the Independent National Electoral Commission are set to leave office between December 2025 and 2026, just ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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Experts at a roundtable hosted by YIAGA Africa in Abuja warned that politically biased appointments could weaken the electoral body and threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
Samson Itodo, YIAGA’s Executive Director, emphasized the need for competence, integrity, and independence in selecting INEC replacements.
“We should all be concerned about these leadership changes. If we don’t appoint competent and independent people, INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections will be weakened,” Itodo said.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt a transparent appointment process, including publicizing nominees, allowing civil society feedback, and ensuring thorough Senate confirmation hearings.
Kole Shettima, Director of the MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria, said civil society must create awareness about the vacancies, urging Tinubu to emulate former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who established a reform panel after the flawed 2007 polls.
“The president should consider the legacy he will leave behind. A fair and open appointment process can help restore trust before 2027,” Shettima noted.
Former INEC Commissioner Festus Okoye also criticized civil society for their past passivity, stressing the need to recommend qualified candidates before poor appointments are made.
Itodo further called on the National Assembly to complete electoral reforms by October 2025, warning that delays could escalate political tensions with early campaigns already in motion.
“If lawmakers can quickly pass other laws, there’s no reason why electoral reforms should be delayed,” he added.
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The meeting ended with a strong consensus: safeguarding INEC’s independence is essential to credible elections and the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
